Ancestral Witch, Houtu Tribe.
Ever since the Ancestral Witch Houtu transformed into the "Six Paths of Reincarnation" and became Empress Pingxin, the Houtu Tribe had, after a vote by the other eleven Ancestral Witches, temporarily placed this power under the jurisdiction of the Thirteenth Ancestral Witch, Zhou Ji.
In this way, several tens of thousands of years passed peacefully. After Zhou Ji had stabilized his Ancestral Witch realm, only one yuanhui remained of the time Dao Ancestor Hongjun had set for the Witch Race and Demon Race.
The atmosphere before the coming war grew increasingly oppressive, and the Primordial World had grown quiet and deserted.
The various immortals had long since sealed their abodes and begun to quietly recite the Yellow Court. Even the Human Teaching, Interception Sect, Exposition Sect, and Western Sect had warned their disciples not to leave their mountains lightly unless something happened.
Even the Witch Race and Demon Race had withdrawn their forces and stopped attacking the Human Race. With a violent storm about to arrive, all the experts of both races were drilling their battle formations and making their final preparations.
"Alas! I thought that with the 'Soul Gathering Banner' and the 'Twelve Heavenly Fiend God Formation,' our Witch Race would be certain to defeat the Demon Race. Who could have expected the Demon Race to use the souls of the Human Race to strengthen the 'Star River Slaying Witch Blade' and the 'Witch Slaying Sword'? The situation is still far from optimistic!"
As the outbreak of the great war drew nearer, the twelve Ancestral Witches also held meetings in the "Ancestral Witch Hall" with increasing frequency.
Just as the Witch Race and Demon Race were fully preparing for war and the great divine powers of every faction were withdrawing from the world, the two Saints of the Western Sect in the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss were eagerly preparing to add fuel to the conflict between the two races.
"Senior Brother, we can't wait any longer. The Witch Race and Demon Race are, at most, a considerable threat, but Pingxin's appearance means that the Witch Race now has a way out. Although Pingxin cannot leave the Six Paths of Reincarnation, who knows whether new changes will occur after the Immeasurable Calamity?"
Zhunti continued, "If the Witch Race cannot completely disappear, it will greatly affect our future propagation of the teachings. We must employ some means to make the two races perish together and completely eliminate the influence of the Witch Race and Demon Race on the Primordial World."
After Zhunti finished speaking, Jieyin nodded.
The two of them were different from the Three Pure Ones and Nuwa. Unlike the Eastern Saints, who were pure and at ease, Jieyin and Zhunti bore a heavy burden of debts. They needed to enlighten the living beings of the Primordial World before they could hope to repay their karmic debts to the Heavenly Dao.
Thus, seeing Houtu transform into Pingxin and leave the Witch Race a sliver of hope in the Nine Nether Underworld naturally displeased the two Saints. If, after the Witch-Demon War ended, some great divine powers of the Witch Race and Demon Race still survived, then with what qualifications could their Western Sect spread its teachings?
Even Di Jun and Tai Yi were top-tier existences. If they truly obtained an opportunity, they might advance even further. Once they severed the Three Corpses, even if they could not attain the Dao, they would still be the strongest beneath the Saints. Such a threat was far too great.
In the future, they naturally could not rely on only the two of them to handle everything. If that were the case, where would the dignity of Saints be?
"Junior Brother, proceed according to your plan. I will conceal the Heavenly Secrets for you now." Jieyin sighed. With a sweep of his great sleeve, the power of a Saint immediately concealed the Heavenly Secrets. Even other Saints would be unable to deduce everything within a short period.
"Senior Brother, rest assured. I'll make the journey myself."
Zhunti was delighted. With a movement of his body, he had already left the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss and entered the Primordial World.
On "Yingzhou Immortal Island" grew a Solar Divine Tree known as "Fusang." The tree towered into the sky, its leaves resembling those of a mulberry tree, and it even bore fruit.
The tree stood over three thousand zhang tall. Most of its branches grew intertwined and overlapping, while boundless flames blazed fiercely from its trunk. At that moment, ten Golden Crows were practicing the art of breathing and circulation atop the Fusang Divine Tree, absorbing the essence of the sun to refine the Solar True Fire within their bodies.
These ten Golden Crows were the ten princes of the Heavenly Court born to Di Jun and Xihe. This land of Fusang, close to the Solar Star, was perfectly suited for cultivating the "Solar True Fire." Although the ten Golden Crows had been born only a short time ago, they had inherited the talents of two great divine powers. Now, every one of them was in the Golden Immortal realm, and the strongest had even reached the peak of the Golden Immortal realm.
The Primordial World was dangerous. Di Jun had concealed the Heavenly Secrets surrounding the entire "Yingzhou Immortal Island" and had even arranged a weakened version of the "Grand Formation of the Stars." This place had also become one of Di Jun's hidden contingencies. Naturally, arranging for his descendants to cultivate here was meant to ensure that, even if the Demon Race fell, his descendants would still have a sliver of hope.
Di Jun's calculations were sound, but they could not deceive the Saints. Saints such as the Three Pure Ones naturally could not bring themselves to attack juniors, as that would cost them their dignity.
Nuwa, meanwhile, was a Saint of the Demon Race, so she naturally would not target Di Jun's ten children either.
The fact that the four Eastern Saints did not act did not mean that no Saint would. On this day, Zhunti descended from the Pure Land of Ultimate Bliss and arrived at "Yingzhou Immortal Island" in the Eastern Sea.
With the two Saints, Zhunti and Jieyin, concealing the Heavenly Secrets, Di Jun and Xihe naturally could not sense the danger approaching their children.
Around "Yingzhou Immortal Island" was a contingent of the Heavenly Court's army that Di Jun had stationed there. With this army's battle formation in place, even a Quasi-Saint would be unable to break through it in a short time. Combined with the weakened version of the "Grand Formation of the Stars," it could be called foolproof.
Unfortunately, no matter how carefully Di Jun calculated, he had not accounted for a shameless person like Zhunti. To attack a few insignificant Golden Immortals with the status of a Saint—what a disgraceful thing to do.
Looking at the Heavenly Court army camp before him and the weakened version of the "Grand Formation of the Stars," Zhunti smiled faintly. With a turn of his body, he transformed into a burly, rough-looking man dressed no differently from the Witch Race. Even the aura manifesting from his body was that of a Great Witch.
"Freeze!"
Zhunti gave a soft shout. The hundred thousand Heavenly Court soldiers stationed there immediately became motionless, and the entire camp fell into a deathly silence.
As for the formation on "Yingzhou Immortal Island," it naturally could not block Zhunti. After studying it briefly, Zhunti soon passed through the formation and entered Yingzhou Immortal Island.
Zhunti even had enough strength to open a temporary passage and alter the passage connecting "Yingzhou Immortal Island" with the mainland of the Primordial World.
After entering "Yingzhou Immortal Island" and sensing the rich innate spiritual energy, Zhunti felt somewhat envious. The prosperity of the East was something the West could not compare with.
After flying for a while, Zhunti saw a towering giant tree. Ten Golden Crows had built nests atop it and were inhaling and exhaling the "Solar True Fire" to temper their magical power.
"Hahaha! Ten feathered beasts, you're actually just like Di Jun and Tai Yi. This Great Witch happens to be hungry. I'll capture you, kill you, and eat your flesh!"
The ten Golden Crows saw their vision blur. A tall member of the Witch Race suddenly appeared before them. The Great Witch attacked them at once, spreading all five fingers. Ten water dragons condensed in his palm, roaring as they crashed toward the ten Golden Crows.
"So this is the Witch Race? Damn them! Every member of the Witch Race deserves to die! Kill him!"
From childhood onward, the ten Golden Crows had heard nothing but tales of the Witch Race's evil. With their innate enmity, seeing a member of the Witch Race trespass here and attack them instantly enraged them. One after another, they spread their wings and soared high, boundless flames surging into the sky and sweeping toward the ten water dragons.
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